Pressure-assisted toilet flush cartridge

Abstract

A pressure assisted toilet flush cartridge that reduces noise output by controlling water flow. One aspect of the noise reduction is to reduce the initial discharge increase in flow rate. Another aspect is to create a vortex in discharge water to reduce cavitation and quiet the discharged water flow through the bowl.

1 . A mechanism for initiating a flush of a pressure assisted toilet, comprising: 
 a generally cylindrical housing having a top end, a bottom end, an internal surface and a discharge aperture having a first predetermined area;    a flush valve interposed within said housing and having a top flange, a generally hollow body with a top flange opening, and a lower extension, wherein said flange and said internal surface define a generally annular gap having a second predetermined area, and wherein said first predetermined area is larger than the second predetermined area.    
   
   
       2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said flush valve further comprises a flush valve seal selectively in sealing contact with a pressure tank outlet.  
   
   
       3 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein said hollow body selectively contains a predetermined volume of water, and wherein said volume of water provides a motive force to assist said flush valve seal to seat with the pressure tank outlet.  
   
   
       4 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein said lower extension selectively extends through the pressure tank outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises a retaining element disposed on said internal surface, wherein said retaining element interferes with said top flange to prevent said flush valve from undesirably passing through said bottom end.  
   
   
       6 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said wherein said lower extension has a generally helical muffler surface.  
   
   
       7 . The mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein said generally helical muffler surface comprises a helical groove formed within said lower extension.  
   
   
       8 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said lower extension imparts a vortex in fluid flowing past said lower extension.  
   
   
       9 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said flush valve is actuated by a decrease in pressure within said housing.  
   
   
       10 . A flush valve for a pressure assisted toilet, comprising: 
 an edge circumscribing a first predetermined area;    a flush valve seal selectively in sealing contact with a vessel outlet;    a generally hollow body connecting said edge and said valve seal and having an opening, wherein said hollow body selectively contains a predetermined volume of water, and wherein said volume of water provides a motive force to assist said flush valve seal to seat with a vessel outlet.    
   
   
       11 . The flush valve of  claim 10 , further comprising a lower extension, wherein said lower extension has a generally helical muffler surface.  
   
   
       12 . The flush valve of  claim 11 , wherein said generally helical muffler surface comprises a helical groove formed within said lower extension.  
   
   
       13 . The flush valve of  claim 11 , wherein said generally helical muffler surface comprises a helical fin extending from said lower extension.  
   
   
       14 . The flush valve of  claim 10 , wherein said flush valve is selectively interposed within an outer housing of a flush cartridge, the flush cartridge including a passageway of a second predetermined area, said edge and an internal surface of the outer housing define a generally annular gap having a third predetermined area; 
 wherein a lower portion of said flush valve is selectively interposed within a discharge outlet, said lower portion and the discharge outlet defining a gap having a fourth predetermined area; and    wherein the second predetermined area is greater than the combination of the third predetermined area and the fourth predetermined area.    
   
   
       15 . The flush valve of  claim 10 , wherein said lower extension creates a vortex in fluid flowing past said lower extension.  
   
   
       16 . A method of reducing flushing noise in a pressure assisted toilet, wherein the pressure assisted toilet includes a pressure-assisted tank, the method comprising: 
 imparting a swirling effect in a fluid discharged from the pressure tank to create a vortex.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 determining an initial flow rate of water discharged from said pressure tank; and    reducing the initial flow rate.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said vortex is created outside said pressure tank.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 determining the a maximum flow rate of water discharged from said pressure tank; and    reducing said maximum flow rate.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising limiting the initial discharge flow rate from the pressure tank by limiting the effective area for flow of fluid as the fluid begins to flow.  
   
   
       21 . A flush valve cartridge for a toilet comprising: 
 an outer housing having an internal surface;    a passageway having a first predetermined area to permit flow of a fluid; and    a flush valve at least partially interposed within said outer housing, said flush valve including an edge and a lower portion, wherein said edge and said internal surface define a gap having a second predetermined area, said lower portion is at least partially interposed within a discharge outlet of the toilet, said lower portion and said discharge outlet defining a generally annular gap having a third predetermined area, and wherein said first predetermined area is larger than the combination of said second predetermined area and said third predetermined area.    
   
   
       22 . The cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said lower portion is selectively raised relative to the discharge outlet and said third predetermined area increases as said lower portion is selectively raised.  
   
   
       23 . The cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said flush valve further comprises a generally hollow body selectively adapted to fill with a fluid.  
   
   
       24 . The cartridge of  claim 21 , further comprising a helical groove formed on said lower portion.